The founder of Stechford mosque, Haji Fazal Ellahi, has died at the age of 86.
Haji Fazal Ellahi started campaigning in 1990 for a place of worship in the community and held a number of meetings with then Yardley MP Estelle Morris.
A deal was eventually completed for the premises on Albert Road for £50,000.
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Haji Fazal Ellahi, who moved to Birmingham in 1958 from Kashmir, chose the name of the trust as Jamia Masjid and Madrassa Faiz Ul Quran Ghousia and 11 trustees were selected.
The official opening of Stechford mosque was on Monday, May 10, 1998. On the very first day 55 children enrolled into the evening school classes.
Volunteer teachers signed-up and an imam was appointed. In 2004 the next-door building was purchased for £202,000.
Haji Fazal Ellahi worked hard with his team to fundraise to purchase the building.
In 2004 the Stechford mosque became a registered charity.
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Haji Fazal Ellahi’s grand plans were to create a purpose-built mosque in Stechford and in 2011 a former children’s home was bought for £270,000 on Stuarts Road.
More than £130,000 was raised by Haji Fazal Ellahi’s team and recently plans were lodged with Birmingham City Council.
He ran an Asian Grocery supermarket, in Alum Rock Road, Saltley, until 1984. In later life, Haji Fazal Ellahi battled diabetes and heart problems. He died in Heartlands Hospital.
A spokesman for the trust said yesterday: “Haji Fazal Ellahi will be remembered for his generosity, willingness and creating the first mosque in the Stechford area. He was always positive and committed to his work.”
Due to failing health, all the mosque work was handed over to Haji Fazal Ellahi’s son, Haji Mohammed Yasin.
Funeral prayers were held at Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkool Shareef, Small Heath, and burial took place at Chackswari Mirpur Azad, in Kashmir, near his parents’ graves.
He leaves a wife, five sons, a daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.